Comparison of microwave ablation and surgical resection for treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas conforming to Milan criteria

Current role of microwave ablation in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be as effective as surgical resection in terms of overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Effectiveness of RFA is adversely influenced by heat-sink effect. Other ablative therapies could be considered for larger tumors or for tumors located near the vessels. In this regard, recent improvements in microwave energy delivery systems seem to open interesting perspectives to percutaneous ablation, which could become the ablation technique of choice in the near future. Microwave ablation (MWA) has the advantages of possessing a higher thermal efficiency. It has high efficacy in coagulating blood vessels and is a relatively fast procedure. The time required for ablation is short and the shape of necrosis is elliptical with the older systems and spherical with the new one. There is no heat-sink effect and it can be used to ablate tumors adjacent to major vessels. These factors yield a large ablation volume, and result in good local control and fewer complications. This review highlights the most relevant updates on MWA in the treatment of small (<3 cm) HCC. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility of MWA as the first ablative choice, at least in selected cases.

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Microwave Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Caudate Lobe

Treatment for liver tumors in the caudate lobe is challenging because of their location and complex anatomy. This study was intended to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and tolerability of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave (MW) ablation for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe. From December 2011 to May 2015, a total of 20 patients (mean age: 62 ± 11 y) with HCC in the caudate lobe were enrolled in this study. Patient characteristics and tumor features were analyzed. The epigastric approach, intercostal approach and the combination were used in 4, 14 and 2 patients, respectively. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) guidance and temperature monitoring were applied as ancillary techniques. Ethanol injection was performed for tumors adjacent to the inferior vena cava or hepatic hilum. Contrast images were performed to evaluate treatment response after ablation. Technical success, technique efficacy, local tumor progression and complications were documented. Technique efficacy was achieved in 18 patients (18/20, 90%). Two patients received (125)I brachytherapy as palliative therapy for residual tumors that could not be ablated technically after the first ablation. Technical success was achieved in 16 patients (16/20, 80%). In 2 patients, ablation was completed after two sessions. CEUS was applied in 5 patients and temperature monitoring in 2 patients. Eight patients received an ethanol injection during ablation. Eleven patients achieved a minimum 5-mm safety margins. Local tumor progression was detected in 3 patients (16.7%, 3/18) during a median follow-up of 18.4 mo (range: 3-45 mo). Tumors in these 3 patients were all larger than 2.0 cm. No major or minor complications were observed. In conclusion, ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation combined with CEUS, temperature monitoring, and ethanol injection is a tolerable and relatively effective treatment for HCC in the caudate lobe.

Laparoscopic RFA with splenectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is complicated and challenging because of the frequent presence of cirrhosis. Therefore, we propose a novel surgical approach to minimize the invasiveness and risk in patients with HCC, hypersplenism, and esophagogastric varices.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study carried out in 25 patients with HCC and hypersplenism and who underwent simultaneous laparoscopic-guided radio-frequency ablation and laparoscopic splenectomy with endoscopic variceal ligation. Tumor size was restricted to a single nodule of <3 cm. Characteristics of the patients (cirrhosis etiology, liver function, tumor size, spleen size), surgery (complications, blood loss, time of stay), and follow-up (recurrence and survival) were examined.

RESULTS

Mean operative time was 128 ± 18 min. Mean blood loss was 206 ± 57 mL. Length of stay was 7.0 ± 1.5 days. Mean total costs were 8064 USD. Cytopenia and thrombocytopenia recovered quickly after surgery. No procedure was converted to open surgery. Two patients showed worsening liver function after surgery, three patients showed worsening of ascites, and five patients suffered from portal vein thrombosis. The 1-year tumor-free survival was 78.8 %, and the 21-month tumor-free survival was 61.4 %. According to a literature review, these outcomes were comparable to those of simultaneous open hepatic resection and splenectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic-guided radio-frequency ablation with laparoscopic splenectomy and endoscopic variceal ligation could be an available technique for patients with HCC <3 cm, hypersplenism, and esophagogastric varices. This approach may help to minimize the surgical risks and results in a fast increase in platelet counts with an acceptable rate of complications.

Clinical Presentation and Patient Evaluation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a diagnosis of exclusion. Most patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. Most patients remain undiagnosed. A high index of suspicion and serologic work-up to rule out alternative causes of liver disease is required. In NALFD, fibrosis correlates with outcomes, including mortality. To diagnose, assess severity, and monitor fibrosis, 2 noninvasive methods can be used. However, noninvasive tests are more helpful at extremes of fibrosis: excluding it or diagnosing advanced fibrosis. Liver biopsy is usually reserved for cases whereby noninvasive tests fail to accurately determine the degree of fibrosis or the diagnosis is unclear.

Microwave ablation for liver tumors

Surveillance programs and widespread use of medical imaging have increased the detection of hepatic tumors. When feasible, surgical resection is widely accepted as the curative treatment of choice, but surgical morbidity and mortality has spurred the development of minimally invasive ablative technologies over the last 2 decades. Microwave ablation has emerged as a promising thermal ablation modality with improving oncologic efficacy due to technical improvements and image guidance strategies. This article provides an overview of microwave application in liver tumors, and we discuss currently available equipment, clinical efficacy, and safety and provide comparisons with other commonly used therapies. This article also introduces advanced ablative techniques and combination therapies that may help achieve precise ablation and further enhance the efficacy of microwave ablation.

Therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous microwave coagulation versus liver resection for single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis

AIMS

This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of liver resection (LR) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) for single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤3 cm (HCC) in cirrhotic livers.

METHODS

In this study, 190 patients with single HCC ≤3 cm and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis were retrospectively reviewed. Among these patients, 122 patients underwent LR, and 68 patients received PMCT. The therapeutic efficacy and complications were compared between the two procedures.

RESULTS

There was no treatment-related hospital mortality in either group. Major complications were significantly more frequent in the LR group compared to the PMCT group (22.1% vs 5.9%, p = 0.004). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates for the LR group and PMCT group were 98.4%, 93.6%, 55.2% and 97.1%, 87.7%, 51%, respectively. There was no significant difference in OS rates between the LR group and PMCT group (p = 0.153). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS rates were 96.7%, 70.5% and 43.7%, respectively, in the LR group, which were significantly higher compared to the PMCT group (92.6%, 50.5% and 26.3%, p = 0.006). Subgroup analyses revealed that HCC patients with portal hypertension (PH), OS and DFS were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

LR may provide better DFS and lower recurrence rates than PMCT for single HCC ≤3 cm and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis. For HCC patients with PH, PMCT may provide therapeutic effects that are similar to LR.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes Between Right Posterior Sectionectomy and Right Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Liver: A Single-Centre Experience

BACKGROUND

Right hepatectomy (RH) instead of right posterior sectionectomy (RPS) is commonly performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic livers located lateral to the right hepatic vein in order to ensure adequate resection margin. This potentially increased the risk of postoperative liver failure. This study aims to compare survival outcomes and surgical morbidities between RH and RPS.

METHODS

All patients between 2003 and 2013 with resection for solitary HCC in cirrhotic livers at segment 6/7 were reviewed. Baseline demographics, liver function, perioperative outcomes, and overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between RH and RPS.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients were included in this study. Thirty-two patients had RH and forty-nine with RPS were selected as controls. Majority of the HCC patients (91.4 %) suffered from chronic hepatitis B. There was no significant difference in age, gender and Child-Pugh grade between the two groups. The median tumour size of RH group was 6 vs. 4 cm in the RPS group (p < 0.0001). Both groups had no statistical difference in resection margin and their associated morbidities. The 5-year OS for RH and RPS was 76 and 83.8 %, respectively (p = 0.766), whereas their corresponding DFS was 52.6 and 52.2 % (p = 0.859). Despite the discrepancy of tumour size among the two groups, there was no statistical difference in subgroup analysis based on their corresponding stage of disease.

CONCLUSION

RPS can achieve similar OS and DFS as RH for HCC, and should be considered as the treatment of choice in order to optimise the postoperative remnant parenchymal liver functions.

Hepatocellular carcinoma review: Current treatment, and evidence-based medicine

We read with great interest the recent article entitled “Hepatocellular carcinoma review: Current treatment, and evidence-based medicine” by Raza et al, published in World Journal of Gastroenterology. Authors evaluated treatments for early and advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma based on an extensive review of the relevant literature. They reported that radiofrequency ablation is the most effective local ablative therapy. They concluded that RF ablation is equivalent to surgical resection in well selected patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, we want to mention microwave ablation besides RF ablation.

Comparison of hepatic resection and radiofrequency ablation for small hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of 16,103 patients

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the therapeutic effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgical hepatic resection (HR) in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty-one studies were included in the analysis. A total of 16,103 patients were involved: 8,252 treated with RFA and 7,851 with HR. Compared to the RFA group, the 3, 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates in the HR group were significantly higher. On the other hand, complications were significantly fewer and hospital-stay was significantly shorter in the RFA group than in the HR group. In subgroup analyses, the overall and disease-free survival in the HR group were also significantly higher than those in the RFA group for HCCs ≤ 3 cm, whereas there were no significant differences between the two groups for HCCs ≤ 2 cm. Our analysis showed that although HR was associated with higher complication rate and longer hospital-stay, HR is proposed as the first-line treatment rather than RFA for patients with HCCs larger than 2 cm. For patients with HCCs of 2 cm or less, RFA may be an alternative to HR because of their comparable long-term efficacy.